Monthly Archives: December 2013

She’d kept her secrets safely hidden—those from her past, and those in the present. Some things, Beth Roberts knows, a lady simply doesn’t share, even in the 1880’s West. The townspeople would never understand. No one ever has.

Jeffery Tucker, a handsome young writer, has kept his own secrets. He doesn’t have a right to pry into Beth’s affairs but finds himself strangely drawn to her and intrigued by the whiff of mystery surrounding her.

Beth knows that one day someone will unravel the threads of her past. And when two men from her past arrive, the truth might just hurt … Beth’s future and her heart.

As shadowy memories surface, Beth sketches the scenes she sees and is shocked by what—and who—her illustrations reveal. Dare she risk her heart again?”

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The publisher gave me a copy of this book to read and review (from NetGalley). This has, in no way, altered my opinion of the book and what is written below is a 100% honest review.

When it comes to Christian historical romances, man, I’m a goner. I’ve never read anything by Miralee Ferrell so I didn’t know what to expect when I began this one. I’ve read many other Christian historical romances, so I do know what I like and what I dislike in this genre.

“Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting humans from demon attacks. But when she was a child, a demon killed her parents—and stole her magic. Since then, she’s been pretending to be something she’s not, using her sister’s magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent away.
When she’s finally given the chance to join the elite demon-hunting force, Penelope thinks that will finally change. With her sister’s help, she can squeeze through the tests and get access to the information she needs to find “her” demon. To take back what was stolen.
Then she meets Carter. He’s cute, smart, and she can borrow his magic, too. He knows her secret—but he also has one of his own.
Suddenly, Penelope’s impossible quest becomes far more complicated. Because Carter’s not telling her everything, and it’s starting to seem like the demons have their own agenda…and they’re far too interested in her.”

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The publisher gave me a copy of this book to read and review (from NetGalley). This has, in no way, altered my opinion of the book and what is written below is a 100% honest review.

This book had an interesting synopsis that immediately grabbed my attention. Sure, I’ve read “witch” books, but this one seemed different! I didn’t know what to expect, but this book blew me away! 🙂

Like this:

“A wholly original tale of friendship and betrayal through the eyes – and lies – of one extraordinary girl.Sasha has a secret – that she can make you spill your secret with nothing more than a question. Her strange gift makes her a burden to her foster family and a total freak of nature. Not that Sasha cares. Why should she when no one cares about her?Then the CIA knocks on her door. They want to give Sasha a new identity and drop her into a foreign country to infiltrate a ring of zealous graffiti terrorists. They want to give Sasha something to care about.To survive a world where no one is who they seem, Sasha needs to make people trust her. But when that trust blossoms into love, Sasha is forced to decide between duty and friendship, between her mind and her heart, and whether to tell the truth or keep her secrets.”

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The publisher gave me a copy of this book to read and review (from NetGalley). This has, in no way, altered my opinion of the book and what is written below is a 100% honest review.

When I first opened this book, I was surprised to see that there were graphic novel elements in this book combined with a novel. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never read a novel that has both! It was an interesting concept and I actually grew to enjoy Continue reading →

Like this:

“Jenny Kramer knows she isn’t normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them. When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumble onto an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought—like a past life! Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her dreams who has now appeared next door, was there, too. Jenny is forced to acknowledge that Nikolai has traveled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back. While Ben, Jenny, and Nikolai race against the clock—and the Order—Jenny and Nikolai discover a link that joins them in life and beyond death.”

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To begin with, this was my first book to read/review from NetGalley. The publisher gave me a copy of this book to read and review. This has, in no way, altered my opinion of the book and what is written below is a 100% honest review.

I’ve always been incredibly fascinated with the story of the Romanovs and when I discovered that the plot of this novel intersected with the Romanovs, I was even more eager to read it! I’ve read many Teen YA novels that tie in the Anastasia/Romanov story, but this one was different than the others.

I cannot say that I absolutely loved this novel, but I also cannot say that I Continue reading →

Like this:

“There was a time when the world was sweeter….when the women in Beaufort, North Carolina, wore dresses, and the men donned hats…. Every April, when the wind smells of both the sea and lilacs, Landon Carter remembers 1958, his last year at Beaufort High. Landon had dated a girl or two, and even once sworn that he’d been in love. Certainly the last person he thought he’d fall for was Jamie, the shy, almost ethereal daughter of the town’s Baptist minister….Jamie, who was destined to show him the depths of the human heart-and the joy and pain of living. The inspiration for this novel came from Nicholas Sparks’s sister: her life and her courage. From the internationally bestselling author Nicholas Sparks, comes his most moving story yet….”

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I may have ruined my unbiased opinion by first watching the movie and then reading the book, but, nonetheless, this is one of Mr. Sparks most timeless and classic novels!

The story is pretty cliche: a bad boy with a reputation meets an obedient, church-loving girl. Through their relationship, they both change… for the better. Nicholas Sparks has a very simple writing style which Continue reading →

” In Mary’s world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?”

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Anyone that knows me knows that The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan is one of (if not my absolute) favorites. Carrie Ryan paints a haunting and post apocalyptic world through the eyes of a young and confused girl named Mary. Torn between two suitors and constantly threatened by the unconsecrated (AKA zombies) that beat on the fence surrounding her small town, Mary has a lot on her plate. Mary is a relatable, strong, and intelligent protagonist living in a dark and troubled world.

I absolutely love how Carrie Ryan writes a story of hope and love in the midst of the death and darkness of the Forest of Hands and Teeth. At no point does the plot grow stale or Continue reading →